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Ex-L&T Employee Recalls Grueling 14-Hour Workdays, 6.5-Day Weeks at Construction Sites
M
Moneycontrol•02-10-2026, 12:35
Ex-L&T Employee Recalls Grueling 14-Hour Workdays, 6.5-Day Weeks at Construction Sites
- •A Chennai entrepreneur sparked debate by sharing his experience of working 10-14 hours daily, 6.5 days a week, at L&T Construction sites from 1986-1994.
- •Sundara Rajan's post on X, viewed over three lakh times, detailed needing permission for personal tasks during weekdays due to the demanding schedule.
- •Rajan defended the intense routine, citing 'perfect sleep after tiresome day' and the unique operational demands of project work with thin margins.
- •He countered comparisons to Western work cultures, stating the US construction industry faces similar demanding schedules, albeit with better pay.
- •Despite Rajan's explanations, many X users criticized the work culture as 'instituted slavery' and linked it to poor quality in the Indian construction sector.
Key Questions Answered
Sundara Rajan stated that employees routinely worked six-and-a-half days a week and spent 10 to 14 hours a day on the job during his years at L&T project sites from 1986 to 1994.
Rajan argued that project work has unique operational demands, noting that margins are thin, digital tools have brought some improvements, and workers experienced perfect sleep after tiresome days.
When a user claimed that such demanding schedules would not be accepted in Western nations, Rajan asserted that the US construction industry has the same situation, though workers are paid well.
